Ricochet Refresh

Ricochet Refresh is a peer‑to‑peer instant messenger that routes all communication through Tor hidden services. When the application starts it creates a Tor v3 onion service that serves as the user’s anonymous address; contacts are added by exchanging these addresses, and each conversation is carried over a fresh Tor circuit composed of multiple relays. This design ensures that no single node can see both the sender and receiver, providing metadata resistance and anonymity for both parties.

The client runs natively on macOS and supports encrypted text chat as well as built‑in secure file transfer between users. Because the system is decentralized, there are no central servers to trust, monitor, or compromise, and all messages are automatically encrypted end‑to‑end. The source code is publicly available, allowing inspection and community contributions.

Ricochet Refresh targets individuals who require strong privacy guarantees—such as whistleblowers, activists, and journalists—by offering a straightforward interface for anonymous, metadata‑resistant communication without relying on third‑party infrastructure.